UF FOOTBALL

Brown has big potential on UF's offensive line

Florida lineman Trenton Brown had a strong starting debut against Georgia last Saturday.

Matt Stamey/Staff photographer

By Zach AbolverdiCorrespondent

Published: Friday, November 8, 2013 at 8:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, November 7, 2013 at 10:34 p.m.

Most 6-foot-8, 360-pound men would have a hard time blocking pass rushers in the SEC.

Florida offensive tackle Trenton Brown, however, is a unique physical specimen and impressed in his first career start against Georgia last Saturday.

“I thought Trenton did some nice things,” UF coach Will Muschamp said. “He's a big man; he's a large body. ... For a first start going in that environment, I thought he played well.”

Three years ago, this massive human being was 70 pounds lighter, two inches shorter and averaging 12 points and 10 rebounds on his high school basketball team. He could do windmill dunks and received offers from mid-major Division I schools such as Jacksonville State, Old Dominion and South Carolina State.

“I played basketball all my life,” Brown said. “Actually, I was a guard when I was smaller. When I was 10, I was like 5-8. I've always been able to play out in space, and I think that's helped me a lot at the offensive tackle position.”

Due to academic issues, Brown had to attend a junior college and chose to play football at Georgia Military College.

That's when his body took a turn for the worse.

Brown said he and his roommates would eat Zaxby's twice a day because “the cafeteria wasn't really the best.” He preferred large chicken finger plates.

“JUCO was a problem for me,” he said. “I gained like a 100 pounds in two years.”

Brown also grew an inch each year, which didn't come as a surprise to him.

“My dad is 6-7, and my mom's dad is 6-7,” he said. “I've heard that you get your size from your mom's side of the family, so I guess I would have kind of nice size either way.”

Brown enrolled at Florida in May and has been dieting ever since. A salad is now the only thing he can order at Zaxby's, and a personal nutritionist reviews nearly all of his meals.

“I take pictures of my meals and send it to her so she can help keep me on the right track,” Brown said. “I'm trying to get down to 340. It's a struggle, but I'm working on it.”

His height also may change again.

“I don't know if I'm done yet,” he said. “I got my X-rays on my knees before the season, and they said my growth plates are still open.”

Does Brown even want to get taller?

“I'm not against it,” he said.

As for basketball, Brown can still dunk and wants to play pickup games in the offseason.

“If I dropped about 60 pounds, I could still get after it,” he said. “I've still got the game.”

But his future is football, and fellow transfer Tyler Moore thinks Brown has pro potential.

“He showed little clips of what he can be, which I'd say is at least a third-round pick in the NFL, if not higher if he can continue to play, continue to develop the way he is,” Moore said.

“He's a big guy and has great reach and everything. So he can be something special if he keeps working.”

<p>Most 6-foot-8, 360-pound men would have a hard time blocking pass rushers in the SEC.</p><p>Florida offensive tackle Trenton Brown, however, is a unique physical specimen and impressed in his first career start against Georgia last Saturday.</p><p>“I thought Trenton did some nice things,” UF coach Will Muschamp said. “He's a big man; he's a large body. ... For a first start going in that environment, I thought he played well.”</p><p>Three years ago, this massive human being was 70 pounds lighter, two inches shorter and averaging 12 points and 10 rebounds on his high school basketball team. He could do windmill dunks and received offers from mid-major Division I schools such as Jacksonville State, Old Dominion and South Carolina State.</p><p>“I played basketball all my life,” Brown said. “Actually, I was a guard when I was smaller. When I was 10, I was like 5-8. I've always been able to play out in space, and I think that's helped me a lot at the offensive tackle position.”</p><p>Due to academic issues, Brown had to attend a junior college and chose to play football at Georgia Military College.</p><p>That's when his body took a turn for the worse. </p><p>Brown said he and his roommates would eat Zaxby's twice a day because “the cafeteria wasn't really the best.” He preferred large chicken finger plates.</p><p>“JUCO was a problem for me,” he said. “I gained like a 100 pounds in two years.”</p><p>Brown also grew an inch each year, which didn't come as a surprise to him. </p><p>“My dad is 6-7, and my mom's dad is 6-7,” he said. “I've heard that you get your size from your mom's side of the family, so I guess I would have kind of nice size either way.”</p><p>Brown enrolled at Florida in May and has been dieting ever since. A salad is now the only thing he can order at Zaxby's, and a personal nutritionist reviews nearly all of his meals.</p><p>“I take pictures of my meals and send it to her so she can help keep me on the right track,” Brown said. “I'm trying to get down to 340. It's a struggle, but I'm working on it.”</p><p>His height also may change again.</p><p>“I don't know if I'm done yet,” he said. “I got my X-rays on my knees before the season, and they said my growth plates are still open.”</p><p>Does Brown even want to get taller?</p><p>“I'm not against it,” he said.</p><p>As for basketball, Brown can still dunk and wants to play pickup games in the offseason.</p><p>“If I dropped about 60 pounds, I could still get after it,” he said. “I've still got the game.”</p><p>But his future is football, and fellow transfer Tyler Moore thinks Brown has pro potential.</p><p>“He showed little clips of what he can be, which I'd say is at least a third-round pick in the NFL, if not higher if he can continue to play, continue to develop the way he is,” Moore said.</p><p>“He's a big guy and has great reach and everything. So he can be something special if he keeps working.”</p>